Pine County supports AMC proposal to put more legals online, not in newspapers

The Pine County Board of Commissioners, in a unanimous vote last Tuesday, supported a resolution put forward by County Administrator David Minke in behest of the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) that would allow more notices to be taken out of local newspapers and on to the county website.

Minke said the county has had good support from local newspapers, but the proposed change in law provides flexibility. The resolution is in support of House File 1286 and Senate File 1152.

“This does not change anything. It just helps support them change the law,” Minke said.

Minke said this would be used to show support of the AMC policy platform.

County Auditor Cathy Clemmer said it would allow the county some flexibility, and the board could choose which legals to still place in newspapers. She said the land sale and others would still be beneficial to print in newspapers but said the delinquent tax list is “always coffee shop fodder.”

“It does not benefit the county,” Clemmer said.

Commissioner Steve Chaffee of Hinckley noted there are quite a few people in Pine County without Internet access.

Minke said it was very unlikely the bill would be changed to say not print notices in newspapers.